Founding Roc-A-Fella Records member Kareem “Biggs” Burke was arrested today (October 15th) with 42 other people in a ring that allegedly controlled the marijuana market in New York City.

According to The New York Daily News, Burke has been a part of the ring since 1992. Federal prosecutors claim that Burke was part of a network that was headed up by Geovanny (Manny) Rodriguez Perez aka “Shorty.”

Police accused Shorty’s network of growing the pot down south, shipping it up north in tractor trailers and returning the proceeds to South Florida, according to Jim Hayes, a special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations For Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Police arrested Burke at his home in North Bergen, N.J. In addition to Burke, an advertising executive for High Times named Matthew Stang was arrested in an 18 month operation, which was dubbed “Operation Green Venom.”

Agents confiscated $1 million in drug profits and 177 pounds of marijuana from the suspects as well.

“This isn’t just a group that controlled one block, one neighborhood,” Hayes said. “They dominated the wholesale marijuana market in New York for 20 years.”

Burke helped co-found Roc-A-Fella Records in 1996 with Jay-Z and Damon Dash, after the pair had been turned down by several record labels.

They landed a distribution deal with Priority Records and released Jay-Z’s classic debut album, Reasonable Doubt.

Kareem “Biggs” Burke and the others face 10 years to life in prison for allegedly distributing over 1,000 kilos of the drug. (Via AHH)